GOP cheers as Dems back Markey

Capuano irked as powerbrokers aim to clear the field

Hillary ChabotSaturday, December 29, 2012

Credit: Herald File

Rep. Edward J. Markey

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A mad scramble by bigwig Democrats to avoid a bloody primary and clear the field for U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey in a U.S. Senate special election left at least one would-be candidate grousing yesterday — and some Republicans downright gleeful.

“They are freaked out,” state Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) said after U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, Victoria Kennedy and the party’s Senate campaign committee all rushed to back Markey, a consummate Washington insider.

“Let them coalesce and let them have a non-primary situation and keep the rust on him,” Hedlund said of the 19-term Democrat, who has never had a serious re-election fight but would likely face battle-tested Republican Scott Brown in the race to fill Kerry’s seat. “Fine by me. You’re going to have a huge contrast in how those two will campaign.”

U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano — a potential Senate candidate despite his loss in the primary during the special election for U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat — was clearly miffed by his party’s rush to back Markey.

“It seems that the big names of our party are trying to choose our nominee for us. When I became mayor of Somerville, the establishment wasn’t with me,” Capuano said in a statement. “When I became a member of Congress, the establishment wasn’t with me. If I make this run, it will be the same way — from the streets up, not from the elite down.”

Kerry — who’s been nominated by President Obama to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — got the ball rolling yesterday afternoon with a gushing show of support for Markey.

“While I began last week to formally step out of politics, and it’s very important that I respect the apolitical nature of the post I hope to soon occupy, as Massachusetts’ senior senator today and as a colleague of Ed Markey’s for 28 years, I’m excited to learn of and support his decision to run for the United States Senate,” Kerry said in a statement.

“Ed’s one of the most experienced and capable legislators in the entire Congress, and it would be an almost unprecedented occasion for such an accomplished legislator to join the Senate able to hit the ground running on every issue of importance to Massachusetts. … He’s gutsy and tough, smart and sharp, a workhorse in Congress who has never forgotten where he came from or who sent him to Washington.”

In short order after that, Victoria Kennedy — Ted Kennedy’s widow and a potential pick to fill Kerry’s seat until the special election is held — chimed in, calling Markey the “best person to continue in the tradition of John Kerry to serve our commonwealth in the United States Senate.

“He will bring proven experience in the workings of Congress to his service in the Senate, and that is an enormous asset and benefit for the people of Massachusetts.”

The head of the Democratic Senate Congressional Committee also endorsed Markey — much to the chagrin of some local Democrats who said voters, not party powerbrokers, should chose the nominee.

“Everyone thinks Scott Brown is a very formidable candidate, so everyone is thinking they should coalesce around someone,” former Democratic state Rep. Daniel Bosley said. “But I think there should be a vetting process.”